Signaling device



Aug. 28, 1951 c. M. MOORE SIGNALING DEVICE Filed Feb. 27, 1950 ///U7/////////A f A//V//4///////@ Patented Aug. 28, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT CFFICE 6 Claims.

rlhis invention relates to a signalling device, and more particularly, to a device useful in restaurants and similar establishments for notifying a waiter that service is desired.

Various systems and devices have been suggested for signalling a waiter in restaurants including annunciator systems involving the installation of complicated fixed wiring and also including various signalling devices to be placed on tables to provide an illuminated signal under control of customers. Systems of the annunciator type are expensive to install and maintain and are not practical where the various tables are movable. The previously suggested signals for placing on the tables have also been expensive and complicated and if relatively small, so as to enable ease in handling while cleaning of the tables or changing table covers, they have been subject to theft.

In accordance with the present invention I have provided a simple and inexpensive device having a detachable self-contained illuminated signal of small size which is the property of the waiter so that the waiter has an interest in preventing the theft of the signal. While the complete signalling device may be attractive in design as well as being small in size, the detachable signal has no utility other than its utility as part of a signalling device in the restaurant. Also the waiter removes the detachable portion of the signalling device before the customer leaves the table, for example, at the time of presentation of a bill or check. The base or holder for the detachable signal may be an inexpensive ash tray provided with a suitable socket for reception of a corresponding portion of the detachable signal. The waiter does not need to remove and carry the base with him and there is very little likelihood of the ash tray being stolen, and if stolen, is represents a very minor portion oi' the cost of the signalling device. The ash tray or base can therefore be left on the table at all times while the illuminated signal is left on the table only during the period when it is required for calling the waiter. The illumination of the signal is under control of the customer but may be discontinued by the Waiter as soon as he comes to the table.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an illuminated service signal which may be carried by a waiter and left on the table only during the period when its use is required.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combination ash tray and illuminated signalling device by which an inexpensive ash tray provides a socket for the reception of a small lightweight illuminated signal to be carried byA a waiter. i

A further object of the invention is to Iprovide a small light-weight signalling device having an inexpensive base portion which may be left on a table at all times and a detachable signalling portion to be carried by the waiter when not in use which provides an illuminated signal under control of the customer and waiter when supported by said ibase.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the following description of the invention, a preferred embodiment of which is shown in the attached drawings, of which:

Fig. 1 is a view partly in vertical section illustrating a device in accordance with the present invention; Y

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the signal portion of the device taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1

Fig. 4 is a vertical section similar to the vertical section of Fig. 3 but taken at right angles thereto;

Fig. 5 is a plan View of the signal portion of the device with the lens and lamp removed; and

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig.f3.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the device shown in the various figures may include a base element I0 and a signal element II. The base element I0 may be in the form of an inexpensive ash tray of glass, plastic or similar material and may be provided with an upstanding outer annular rim portion I2 providing an ash receiving portion I3. An annular upstanding ange I4 may be provided in the ash receiving portion I3 to form a socket or recess I6 for receiving the base portion I'I of the signal element II.

The details of the signal element II are more clearly shown in Figs. 3 to 6, inclusive, iand this element may also include a body portion I8 terminating at its lower end in the base portion I'I and having internal screw Ithreads fl9 a-t its upper portion for attaching the lens 2| provided with external screw threads. The -body portion I8 of the signal element may have internal chambers 22 for receiving a pair of iiash light cells 23. The chambers 22 are interconnected by -a slot 24, and lthe chambers 22 and slot 24 extend through the upper surface of the body portion I 8. A lower contact member 26 having upstanding'lugs 21 struck therefrom may be positioned inthe lower portion of the chambers 22 and slot 24 so that the lugs 21 are positioned to contact the ends of the flash light cells 23. As shown in Fig. 3, one of the cells 23 may be positioned with its central contact directed downwardly and the other of the cells 23 may be positioned to have its central Icontact directed upwardly so that the contact member 26 is eiective to connect the two cells in series to form a l,`r.1attery. v

The slot24 Imay have its upper end enlarged and screw-threaded to p-rovide a'socket 28' to receive the base of a ash light lamp 29. An upper contact and switch member 3| may be positioned in the upper ends of the chambers Y 22 and slot 24 above the ash light cells 23 and 15 may have a contact portion 32 engaging an end of Aone flash light cell 23 and also the central terminal 33 of the lamp 29. The -contact por- 'tion 32 of the contact, and switch element 3| maybe secured to an insulating strip 34 in am7 suitablemanner such A'as by a rivet and thev 'insul'ating strip 34 may likewisevbe secured 'toel contact and spring portion 3B. The conta'ctand spring" portion 36 may have its lower 'portion engaging f the fend -of the-other flashlight cell" 23 and 'may have its 'uppere'nd positioned adjacent the 'side Yterminal of the base 38 uof the lamp 29. intermediate portion Vvof the contact and switch po ion 32 may be positioned to be engaged by a 'camfportion 31 on thelowerendjof a switch lever 38 pivoted to `the body member |8 ofthe signalelement loy`a pin 3 9. The switch lever 38 extends throug'haslot 4| in the upper portion ofthe v body rmember rI8 and lterminates at its upper endv invv ya `"curved" Vfinger engaging`- portion 42 which fc'iay have any suitable legend thereon 4si'c'zliy as fWai'ten The switch structure is shown in the off' positionin Eig. 3 and it will be apparent that depressing of theV fingerengagiig'element V4 2 in Fig. `3"so"as to swingfthe switch lever 38 downwardly vabout itspivot 39 will cause the cam portion 31 thereof t' cam'the upper'end 'ofthe switch andconta'ctelem'ent 36 into'engagement with the side terminal of the base 30gof the lampf29. AfIhis'vvill establish 'a' ci'rcuitifrom the v'lowerV con- Atact'33`of"the'lanf1p 29 through the cntact element' 32, one ofthe flash lightfcllsf23, theV contact mein-ber` y2li, -the other ash -l'ig'ht 'c'elln 23 back toth'e'side of `theb'a'se'-1all 'of the lamp 29. Return" of'fft'he switchl'ev`ve1 "'38 tothe position show'nf'i'n f Fig. 3 will `again` break "this circfuit.

ln' order to' reduce thefweight ofthe signalelement," the bodyv portion 'I8 thereoffmayfbe prov'vic'ledfwith recesses or c'r'edfout' portions `'43 which areshown 'as "opening" through the' lower endy f of the body' portin. -"'1he lower end `vof fther bo'dy portion `|8 may be pr'ov'idedvwith an anni'ilar 'flange `44 for engagement with the upper" dge v-of `the annular flange I4 'and` with" 4a''5'plurality `of ,lens 2| and lamp 29.

4 the lamp 29 from its socket `28. The spring `and contact element 3| may lthen be removed from its position in the slot 24 and chambers 22 after which the flash light cells 23 may be removed `from the upper portion of the body member I8. If desired, the lower Contact member 26 may also be removed or reinserted through the upper portion of Ithe body member 8. It will thus be seen that the internalelectricgal connections and cells l23 imay berm'oved at anytime for repair or renewal of the cells 23 by merely removing the The entire signal element Y|| has somewhat the appearance of a 'lash light but isnot usable therefor as the lens 2| will ordinarily be ymade of frosted glass or translucent plastic soiasto' give a diiused signal rather than a focussed light. The lens 2| may, of course, be

lof any `desired color including white.

Inusing the device of the present invention, the ash tray i9 will ordinarily be left upon a restaurant table' at A,all timesand islight in weight so that fit'maygzbe easily handled during cleaning Yor recovering of. the table. It may also-be-an inexpensive element vso that the ordinary thefts which'occ'ur in restaurants will not entail serious expense. .The relatively small and light-weight signal Ielement will ordinarilybe charged to the waiter so-"that he is interested inpreventing lits theft. -'Ihisel'ement :will ordinarily be removed irorniits vbasedll and'be carried by the waiter. 'Vlhen'customers are seated at a table, thev/aiter will insert oneof a'pluralityofsignal Velementscarriedgbyhim in the ash traybase |0 fand-will take' the customers order. At anysubsequent time when vthe'customerdesires service, itpis lmerely necessary forhim to depress the switchj38, thus yprovidi-ng'an illuminated signal for-the waiter. Afterservice hasfbeen'completed and usually at the time the check is presented to the'custorner, the waiter removes the signal .element-lj; from the base le for use on other fsive'fwiring installations'or a heavy device-positi'onedV upon atable.` and which at the same time,

'is unlikely rto zbe stolen.

pSE-claimz 11;;:In aisigna'lling device. the combinationgof -base element fanda vertically extending illumin ated signal eleinent,gsaid signal element including; an :electric ,lamp riadiacent' its upper f end. a self-lcontained source of electric power for e n- `ergizing" said 1amp-and Va manually operable switch havingfan operating; lever adj acent fsa-,id lampfor connecting. anddisconnecting sai-d lamp fand'saidsource; one of `Saidelements being -providediwith asocket andthe other 'being Vprovided ywithga projecting vmember,y for slidable; reception .in said"socket for detachably supporting ysa'id'signal-,element onz'said baseyelement.

2x1-In 1 ai signallingy device,` the combination i of "a base elementand av vertically vextendingilluminated signal element,` said signal 'element includgizing said lamp anda manually operable "switch erfend- -detachabiyfittingsaidsocket.

3. In a signalling device, the combination of a base element and a detachable signal element, said signal element having an upstanding casing having an opening at its upper end and provided with a translucent lens closing said opening, an electric lamp within said signal element and positioned to direct light through said lens, a selfcontained source of electric power positioned Within said casing for energizing said lamp, and a manually controlled switch having an operating lever adjacent the upper end of said casing for connecting and disconnecting said lamp and said source, said base element having a socket for slidably receiving the lower end of said signal element and said lower end of said signal element detachably fitting said socket.

4. In a signalling device, the combination of a base element and a detachable signal element, said signal element having an upstanding casing having an opening at its upper end and provided with a dome-shaped translucent lens closing said opening and extending upwardly from said casing, an electric lamp within said signal element and having its light emitting portion within said lens and positioned to direct light through said lens, a self-contained source of electric power positioned within said casing for energizing said lamp, and a manually controlled switch adjacent the upper end of said casing for connecting and disconnecting said lamp and said source, said base element having a socket for receiving the lower end of said signal element and said lower end of said signal element detachably fitting said socket, said lens being detachably secured to said casing and said lamp also being detachably secured to said casing, said signal element having means interposed between said lamp and said source for retaining said source in said casing whereby removal of said lens and lamp enables said source to be removed through said opening.

5. In a signalling device, a signal element coniprising a casing having an opening at one end, an electric lamp adjacent said end of said casing, a self-contained source of electric power for energizing said lamp and positioned within said casing and a manually operable switch for connecting and disconnecting said lamp and said source, said lamp beingdetachably secured in said casing, and means interposed between said lamp and said source for retaining said source in said casing, whereby removal of said lamp enables said source to be removed through said opening.

6. In a signalling device, a signal element comprising a casing having an opening at one end, a lens detachably secured to said end of said casing and closing said opening, an electric lamp in said element positioned to direct light through said lens, a self-contained source of electric power for energizing said lamp positioned within said casing and a manually operable switch for connecting and disconnecting said lamp and said source, said lamp being detachably secured in said casing, and means forming part of said switch and interposed between said lamp and said source for retaining said source in said casing, whereby removal of said lens and lamp enables said source to be removed through said opening.

CLYDE MAURICE MOORE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,113,909 Recker Oct. 13, 1914 1,149,933 Martzolf Aug. 10, 1915 1,479,860 Lewis Jan. 8, 1924 2,465,426 Bralove Mar. 29, 1949 

